Part 50

#sī quid vēnāle habuit Heius, sī id quantī aestimābat, tantī vēndidit, dēsinō quaerere cūr ēmeris#, _V._ 4, 10, _if Hejus had anything for sale, if he sold it at his own valuation, I stop enquiring why you bought_. #sī vērē est ā nōbīs philosophia laudāta, eius trāctātiō optimō quōque dignissima est#, _Ac._ 2, 6, _if philosophy has been extolled by me with justice, its study is eminently worthy of the good_. #sī honōris causā statuam dedērunt, inimīcī nōn sunt#, _V._ 2, 150, _if they contributed a statue as a compliment, they are not enemies_. #postēs quoiusmodī? . . . etiam nunc satis bonī sunt, sī sunt inductī pice#, Pl. _Most._ 818, _what think you of the posts? . . . they’re pretty good even now, if they are only smeared with pitch_. This combination is common in general conditional periods (1613): as, #hominēs aegrī sī aquam gelidam bibērunt, prīmō relevārī videntur#, _C._ 1, 31, _if sick people drink cold water, at first they always seem refreshed_. #sī quod est admissum facinus, īdem dēcernunt#, 6, 13, 5, _if a crime has been committed, they also act as judges_. #abiūrant, sī quid crēditumst#, Pl. _Cur._ 496, _they always swear they haven’t it, if anything is trusted them_. #sī puer parvus occidit, aequō animō ferendum putant#, _TD._ 1, 93, _if a baby dies, they always think the affliction should be borne with resignation_.

2035. (_b._) #Apodosis in the Perfect.#

#sī peccāvī, īnsciēns fēcī#, T. _Hau._ 631, _if I’ve done wrong, it was in ignorance_. #haec bona in tabulās pūblicās sī rediērunt, tabulae pūblicae conruptae sunt#, _RA._ 128, _if this property has been entered on the state books, then the state books have been tampered with_. #quō in bellō sī fuit error, commūnis ē̆ī fuit cum senātū#, _Ph._ 11, 34, _if there was a mistake in this war, it was common to him and the senate_. #interiī, sī abiīt#, Pl. _Ps._ 910, _I’m lost, if he has gone_ (1608). Also in general periods (1613): as, #animī sī quandō vēra vīdērunt, ūsī sunt fortūnā atque cāsū#, _Div._ 2, 108, _if the mind has ever seen the truth, it has used in every case luck and chance_. #studiōsē equidem ūtor nostrīs poētīs, sed sīcubi illī dēfēcērunt, vertī multa dē Graecīs#, _TD._ 2, 26, _I use our own poets carefully, it is true: but whenever they have failed me, I have always translated a great deal from Greek_.

2036. (_c._) #Apodosis in the Pluperfect.#

#sī illud iūre rogātum dīcere ausī sunt, oblītīne erant?# _PC._ 45, _if they ventured to say that that measure was brought forward in due form, had not they forgotten?_

2037. (_d._) #Apodosis in the Future.#

#sī quis oriente canīculā nātus est, is in marī nōn moriētur#, _if anybody is born when the dogstar is rising, he will never die at sea_ (general): #sī Fabius oriente canīculā nātus est, Fabius in marī nōn moriētur#, _Fat._ 12, _if Fabius was born when the dogstar was rising, Fabius will not die at sea_ (particular). #sī parum intellēxtī, dīcam dēnuō#, Pl. _R._ 1103, _if you don’t understand, I’ll say again_. #nōn ūtar eā cōnsuētūdine, sī quid est factum clēmenter, ut dissolūtē factum crīminer#, _V._ 5, 19, _I will not avail myself of the common practice, and if a thing has been done in a spirit of mercy, charge that it was done in a lax way_. #nisi iam factum aliquid est per Flaccum, fīet ā mē#, _Fam._ 3, 11, 3, _unless something or other has been done already through Flaccus, it will be done by me_.

2038. (_e._) #Apodosis in the Imperative.#

#sī plūs minusve secuērunt, sē fraude estō#, Twelve Tables in Gell. 20, 1, 49, _if they cut too much or too little, it shall be without penalty_ (1613). #sī vīdistis, dīcite#, Pl. _R._ 323, _if ye have seen, declare_. #sī quid est peccātum ā nōbīs, prōfer#, T. _Hec._ 253, _declare it, if we’ve erred at all_. #sī numquam avārē pretium statuī artī meae, exemplum statuite in mē#, T. _Hau._ 48, _if never like a miser I have set a price upon my art, a pattern set in me_. #sī quōs propīnquus sanguī̆s patrōnōs dedit, iuvāte perīclitantem#, Ta. 3, 12, _if relationship has made any of you his advocates, help him in his straits_.

2039. (_f._) #Apodosis in the Present Subjunctive.#

#sī nūlla colōris prīncipiīs est reddita nātūra, extemplō ratiōnem reddere possīs#, Lucr. 2, 757, _if atoms have no colour, you might explain at once_ (1556). #meritō maledīcās mī, sī nōn id ita factumst#, Pl. _Am._ 572, _you might with perfect right abuse me, if it is not so_ (1556).

2040. (_g._) #Apodosis in the Imperfect Subjunctive.#

#sī nēmō hāc praeteriīt, postquam intrō abiī, cistella hīc iacēret#, Pl. _Cist._ 683, _if nobody has passed along this way, since I went in, a casket must have been lying here_ (1560). #nam cūr tam variae rēs possent esse requīrō, ex ūnō sī sunt ignī pūrōque creātae?# Lucr. 1, 645, _for how could things so motley be, I ask, if they are made of pure and simple fire_ (1565)?

2041. (_h._) #Apodosis in the Pluperfect Subjunctive.#

#sī Antōniō Crassus ēloquēns vīsus nōn est, tibī̆ numquam Cotta vīsus esset#, _O._ 106, _if Antony did not hold Crassus eloquent, you would never have held Cotta so_ (1561).

(3.) PROTASIS IN THE IMPERFECT.

2042. (_a._) #Apodosis in the Present.#

#sī tum nōn pertimēscēbās, nē nunc quidem perhorrēscis?# _V._ 4, 78, _if you were not getting afraid then, are you not getting scared even now?_ #sī quī senēs āc dēfōrmēs erant, eōs in hostium numerō dūcit#, _V._ 5, 64, _if any were old and homely, he considers them in the light of enemies_ (1590). #sī ad illum hērēditās veniēbat, vērī simile est ab illō necātum#, _Inv._ 1, 89, _if the inheritance was coming to so and so, it is likely that the murder was committed by that man_. #adulēscentī nihil est quod suscēnseam, sī illum minus nōrat#, T. _Ph._ 361, _I have no cause for anger with the youth, if he was not acquainted with the man_.

2043. (_b._) #Apodosis in the Perfect.#

#sed sī properābās magis, prīdiē nōs tē hūc dūxisse oportuit#, Pl. _Poen._ 525, _but if you were in greater haste, you should have brought us here the day before_.

2044. (_c._) #Apodosis in the Imperfect.#

This combination is used chiefly of contemporaneous action (1732), in general conditional periods: as, #sī quod erat grande vās, laetī adferēbant#, _V._ 4, 47, _if any good-sized vase was ever found, they would always bring it to him in high glee_. #atque ea sī erant, magnam habēbās dīs grātiam#, Pl. _As._ 143, _and if them you ever had, you were monstrous grateful to the gods_. #sī quae rēs erat maior, populus commovēbātur#, _Sest._ 105, _if a thing of more than ordinary importance occurred, the populace was always aroused_. #hī, sī quid erat dūrius, concurrēbant#, 1, 48, 6, _whenever there was any pretty sharp work, these men would always fall to_. For the subjunctive in such protases, see 2071.

2045. (_d._) #Apodosis in the Future.#

#flēbunt Germānicum etiam īgnōtī: vindicābitis vōs, sī mē potius quam fortūnam meam fovēbātis#, _Ta._ 2, 71, _as for weeping for Germanicus, that will be done by strangers too; vengeance will be yours, if you honoured in me more the man than the position_. See _Att._ 14, 1, 1.

2046. (_e._) #Apodosis in the Present Subjunctive.#

#fāc animō magnō sīs, et sī turbidissima sapienter ferēbās, tranquilliōra laetē ferās#, _Fam._ 6, 14, 3, _be of great heart, and if you bore anarchy like a stoic, bear a more orderly condition of things with good cheer_ (1550).

2047. (_f._) #Apodosis in the Imperfect Subjunctive.#

#sī amābās, invenīrēs mūtuom#, Pl. _Ps._ 286, _you should have borrowed, if you were in love_ (1559). #quod sī meīs incommodīs laetābantur, urbis tamen periculō commovērentur#, _Sest._ 54, _if they did exult over my mishaps, still they ought to have been touched by the danger to Rome_ (1559).

(4.) PROTASIS IN THE PLUPERFECT.

2048. (_a._) #Apodosis in the Present.#

#sī hoc ita fātō datum erat, ut ad pācem petendam venīrem, laetor tē mihī̆ sorte potissimum datum, ā quō peterem#, L. 30, 30, 3, _if it was so ordained by fate that I should come to sue for peace, I am glad that you are allotted me, of all men in the world, to sue from_.

2049. (_b._) #Apodosis in the Perfect.#

#tum id, sī falsum fuerat, fīlius quōr nōn refellit?# T. _Ph._ 400, _if that had been untrue, why did not at the time your son disprove it?_ #vel officiō, sī quid dēbuerat, vel errōrī, sī quid nescierat, satis factum esse dūxit#, _D._ 13, _he thought he had done enough for duty, if he had been under any obligation, enough for delusion, if he had been acting under mistaken ignorance_.

2050. (_c._) #Apodosis in the Imperfect.#

#sed in aedibus quid tibi meīs nam erat negōtī mē absente, nisi ego iusseram?# Pl. _Aul._ 427, _but what business had you in my house in my absence, unless I had ordered?_ #sī nihil in istā pugnā Rōsciī fēcerant, quam ob causam tantīs praemiīs dōnābantur?# _RA._ 108, _if the Rosciuses had not done service in that fight, why were they presented with such rewards?_ Often of antecedent action, in general conditional periods: as, #sī quicquam caelātī adspexerat, manūs abstinēre, iūdicēs, nōn poterat#, _V._ 4, 48, _if he ever caught sight of a bit of chased work, why, gentlemen, he never could keep his hands off_. #stomachābātur senex, sī quid asperius dīxeram#, _DN._ 1, 93, _the old gentleman was always nettled, if I said anything harsh_. #ac seu longum post tempus vēnerat hospes, sīve convīva per imbrem vīcīnus, bene erat nōn piscibus urbe petītīs#, H. _S._ 2, 2, 118, _and if a friend dropped in, after an absence long, or neighbour, come to take pot-luck upon a rainy day, we feasted not on fish brought out from town_. For the subjunctive in such protases, see 2071.

2051. (_d._) #Apodosis in the Imperfect Subjunctive.#

#ante sōlem exorientem nisi in palaestram vēnerās, haud mediocrīs poenās penderēs#, Pl. _B._ 426, _ere sunrise so you came not to the wrestling school, amercement strong you had to pay_ (1552).

(5.) PROTASIS IN THE FUTURE.

2052. (_a._) #Apodosis in the Present.#

#eam sei cūrābeis, perbonast#, Pl. _Merc._ 526, _if you’ll take care of her, she is first-rate_. #quod sī perferre nōn poterō, opprimī mē mālō#, _RA._ 10, _if I cannot succeed in bearing it, I would rather be crushed_.

2053. (_b._) #Apodosis in the Perfect.#

#quam nisi dēfendēs, Rōmulus nōn bene vīdit avēs#, _Prop._ 4 (5), 6, 43, _unless thou savest her, ’twas ill that Romulus espied his birds_. #āctumst, sī quidem tū mē hīc lūdificābere#, T. _Eu._ 717, _all’s up, that is in case you fool me here_ (1612). #cui sī esse in urbe licēbit, vīcimus#, _Att._ 14, 20, 3, _if he shall be allowed to stay in town, the day is ours_ (1612).

2054. (_c._) #Apodosis in the Future.#

#sī erum īnsimulābis malitiae, male audiēs#, T. _Ph._ 359, _you’ll hear what you won’t like, if you insinuate anything wrong against master_. #vīcīnīs bonus estō: sī tē libenter vīcīnitās vidēbit, facilius tua vēndēs; sī aedificābis, operīs, iūmentīs, māteriē adiuvābunt#, Cato, _RR._ 4, _be obliging to your neighbours: if the neighbourhood looks on you with favour, you will find a readier sale for your produce; if you fall to building, they will help you with labour, draught animals, and building material_. #sī id audēbis dīcere, causam inimīcī tuī sublevābis#, _Caecil._ 12, _if you venture to say that, you will promote the cause of your enemy_. #sī fortūna volet, fīēs dē rhētore cōnsul; sī volet haec eadem, fīēs dē cōnsule rhētor#, J. 7, 197, _if fortune shall ordain, a magnate from a teacher thou shalt be; again shall she ordain, a teacher from a magnate shalt thou be_. #nōn modo nōn laedētur causa nōbilitātis, sī istīs hominibus resistētis, vērum etiam ōrnābitur#, _RA._ 138, _the interests of the nobility will not be damaged, if you resist those creatures; oh no, on the contrary, they will be promoted_. The clause with #sī# is apt to take the future perfect (2061). The future in the apodosis often denotes action holding good at all times: as, #dēfēnsor prīmum, sī poterit, dēbēbit vītam eius, quī īnsimulābitur, quam honestissimam dēmōnstrāre#, _Inv._ 2, 35, _the advocate ought in the first place, if he can, to prove that the life of the accused is eminently respectable_. #quod adsequēmur, sī cavēbimus nē in perturbātiōnēs incidāmus#, _Off._ 1, 131, _we shall attain this end if we take care not to be subject to fits of passion_. Sometimes in exemplifications: #sī patriam prōdere cōnābitur pater, silēbitne fīlius?# _Off._ 3, 90, _if a father shall try to betray his country, will the son keep silent?_ But see 2090.

2055. (_d._) #Apodosis in the Future Perfect.#

#oculum ego ecfodiam tibī̆ :: dīcam tamen; nam sī sīc nōn licēbit, luscus dīxerō#, Pl. _Tri._ 463, _I’ll dig your eye out :: but I’ll speak, nathless; for if I may not as I am, I’ll say my say as one-eyed man_. #sed sī tē aequō animō ferre accipiet, neclegentem fēceris#, T. _Andr._ 397, _but if he sees you take it placidly, you’ll have him off his guard_. The more usual combination is as in 2062.

2056. (_e._) #Apodosis in the Imperative.#

#vir tuos sī veniet, iube domī opperīrier#, Pl. _Cist._ 592, _in case your husband comes, tell him to wait at home_. Almost always the second imperative is used (1577): as, #sī volet, suō vīvitō#, Twelve Tables in Gell. 20, 1, 45, _if the prisoner wish, he may subsist on his own food_. #sī veniet nūntius, facitō ut sciam#, Pl. _St._ 148, _if a messenger shall come, be sure you let me know_. #sī dē mē ipsō plūra dīcere vidēbor, īgnōscitōte#, _Sest._ 31, _if I seem to harp too much on myself, you must excuse me_.

2057. (_f._) #Apodosis in the Present Subjunctive.#

#sī quid erit, quod scrībendum putēs, velim faciās#, _Att._ 11, 13, 5, _if there shall be anything which you think worth writing, I wish you would write_ (1555). #nam sī altera illaec magis īnstābit, forsitan nōs reiciat#, T. _Ph._ 717, _for if the other lady presses more, perhaps he’ll throw us out_ (1554). #peream, sī tē ferre poterunt#, Brut. in _Fam._ 11, 23, 2, _may I die, if they shall find it possible to endure you_ (1541). #sī quandō illa dīcet ‘Phaedriam intrō mittāmus,’ Pamphilam cantātum prōvocēmus#, T. _Eu._ 441, _if ever she shall say ‘let us have Phaedria in,’ then let us call out Pamphila to sing_ (1548). #habeat, sī argentum dabit#, Pl. _R._ 727, _she’s welcome to them, if she pays the cash_ (1548).

2058. (_g._) #Apodosis in the Perfect Subjunctive.#

#sī mē audiētis, adulēscentēs, sōlem alterum nē metuerītis#, _RP._ 1, 32, _if you will hearken to me, my young friends, never fear a double sun_ (1551). #sīn erit ille gemitus ēlāmentābilis, vix eum virum dīxerim#, _TD._ 2, 57, _but if his groan be a long-drawn wail, I could scarcely call him a man_ (1558).

(6.) PROTASIS IN THE FUTURE PERFECT.

2059. (_a._) #Apodosis in the Present.#

#salvae sunt, sī istōs flūctūs dēvītāverint#, Pl. _R._ 168, _they are saved, if they escape those waves_ (1593). #rēx sum, sī ego illum hominem adlexerō#, Pl. _Poen._ 671, _I’m a millionaire, if I allure the man_ (1593). #crīmen probāre tē cēnsēs posse, sī nē causam quidem maleficī prōtuleris?# _RA._ 72, _do you think you can prove your charge, if you do not even bring forward a motive for the crime?_ #quod sī meam spem vīs improbōrum fefellerit, commendō vōbīs meum parvum fīlium#, _C._ 4, 23, _but if the might of the wicked disappoints my hope, unto your keeping do I commend the little son of mine_.

2060. (_b._) #Apodosis in the Perfect.#

#victus sum, sī dīxeris#, Pl. _Am._ 428, _I am beaten if you tell_ (1612). #sī sēnserit, periī#, T. _Andr._ 213, _if he scents it, I’m done for_ (1612). #sī cōnservātus erit, vīcimus#, _Fam._ 12, 6, 2, _if he is saved, our success is assured_ (1612). #tum, hercule, illō diē quō ego cōnsul sum creātus, male gesta rēs pūblica est, sī tuleritis#, L. 3, 19, 11, _in that case it was indeed a bad day for the country when I was made consul, if you make the proposition_ (1608).

2061. (_c._) #Apodosis in the Future.#

#perībō, sī nōn fēcerō, sī faxō vāpulābō#, Pl. in Gell. 3, 3, 8, _I shall be done for if I don’t do it, if I do, I shall be done up too_ (1626). #oculum ego ecfodiam tibī̆, sī verbum addideris#, Pl. _Tri._ 463, _I’ll gouge your eye out for you, if you say another word_. #sī tē interficī iusserō, residēbit in rē pūblicā reliqua coniūrātōrum manus#, _C._ 1, 12, _if I order you to be dispatched, the rest of the gang of conspirators will be left in the state_.

2062. (_d._) #Apodosis in the Future Perfect.#

#sī dīxerō mendācium, solēns me͡o mōre fēcerō#, Pl. _Am._ 198, _if fiction I relate, I shall have done but in my usual way_. #sī tū argentum attuleris, cum illō perdiderō fidem#, Pl. _Ps._ 376, _if you, sir, bring the cash, I’ll break my word to him_. #respīrārō, sī tē vīderō#, _Att._ 2, 24, 5, _I shall be myself again, if I see you_. #pergrātum mihī̆ fēceris, sī dē amīcitiā disputāris#, _L._ 16, _you will do me a very great favour, if you will discourse on friendship_.

2063. (_e._) #Apodosis in the Imperative.#

Generally the longer forms of the imperative are used (1577): #patrōnus sī clientī fraudem fēcerit, sacer estō#, Twelve Tables in Serv. to V. 6, 609, _if a patron shall cheat his client, let him be doomed_. #servītum tibi mē abdūcitō, nī fēcerō#, Pl. _Ps._ 520, _if I don’t do it, take me off to be your slave_. #hoc sī effēceris, quodvīs dōnum ā mē optātō#, T. _Eu._ 1056, _if you do this, ask any gift you please of me_. #sī mē adsequī potueris, ut tibī̆ vidēbitur, sepelītō#, _TD._ 1, 103, _if you can ever find me, then bury me as you think best_. Rarely the shorter forms: #inpinge pugnum, sī muttīverit#, Pl. _B._ 800, _drive your fist into him if he says booh_. #sī tumidōs accēdere fastūs sēnseris, inceptō parce referque pedem#, O. _AA._ 1, 715, _if thou shalt see disdain come swelling high, give o’er and beat retreat_.

2064. (_f._) #Apodosis in the Present Subjunctive.#

#sibī̆ habeat, sī nōn extemplō ab eō abdūxerō#, Pl. _Per._ 164, _he may keep her, if I don’t carry her off that minute_ (1548). #caecum mē ferrī cōnfitear, sī tē potuisse superārī dīxerō#, _Planc._ 6, _if I say that you can be surpassed, I should own myself swept along like a blind man_ (1556). #tum magis adsentiāre, sī ad maiōra pervēnerō#, _RP._ 1, 62, _you would agree all the more if I come at once to weightier points_ (1556).

SOME SPECIAL USES.

2065. An indicative protasis with #sī# is often used to assume a general truth as a proof either for another general truth, or for a particular fact.

(_a._) #sī voluptātis sēnsum capit, dolōrēs etiam capit#, _DN._ 3, 32, _if it is susceptible of pleasure, it is also susceptible of pain_. #sī omnēs, quī rē̆ī pūblicae cōnsulunt, cārī nōbīs esse dēbent, certē in prīmīs imperātōrēs. sī ferae partūs suōs dīligunt, quā nōs in līberōs nostrōs indulgentiā esse dēbēmus#, _DO._ 2, 168, _if all people who are devoted to the public service are dear to us, then assuredly our military men ought always to be particularly dear. If wild beasts always love their young, how kind ought we always to be to our own children_. (_b._) #sī pietātī summa tribuenda laus est, dēbētis movērī, cum Q. Metellum tam piē lūgēre videātis#, _DO._ 2, 167, _if filial affection is always to be held in high honour, you ought to be touched in this instance, seeing such affectionate grief in Metellus_. #sī nox opportūna est ēruptiōnī, sīcut est, haec profectō noctis aptissima hōra est#, L. 7, 35, 10, _if night is always favourable for a sortie, and it always is, this particular hour of the night is the very best time_.

2066. An indicative protasis with #sī# often assumes a fact, past or present, as an argument for another fact, or for a general truth.

In this case the apodosis, which is usually a question, often takes the subjunctive (1565).

#sī Sūlla potuit efficere, ut dictātor dīcerētur, cūr hīc nōn possit?# _Att._ 9, 15, 2, _if Sulla could succeed in being appointed dictator, why cannot this man?_ #sī Zēnōnī licuit inaudītum rē̆ī nōmen impōnere, cūr nōn liceat Catōnī?# _Fin._ 3, 15, _if Zeno was allowed to give a new name to a thing, why should not Cato be allowed?_ #quod sī Graecī leguntur ā Graecīs, quid est cūr nostrī ā nostrīs nōn legantur?# _Fin._ 1, 6, _but if Greeks are read by Greeks, why should not Romans be read by Romans?_

2067. An indicative protasis with #sī# often assumes a fact which is declared in the apodosis to be no reason for another fact.

In this case the negative usually begins the period. #sī#, for which #quia# or #etsī# is sometimes substituted, sometimes has #idcircō#, #īlicō#, or #continuō#, rarely #proptereā# or #ideō#, as correlative in the apodosis.

#nōn, sī tibī̆ anteā prōfuit, semper prōderit#, _Ph._ 8, 12, _even if it has done you good in the past, that is no reason why it always will in the future_. #nōn sī Opīmium dēfendistī, idcircō tē istī bonum cīvem putābunt#, _DO._ 2, 170, _suppose you did defend Opimius, that is no reason why your friends will think you a patriot_. #nec sī omne ēnūntiātum aut vērum aut falsum est, sequitur īlicō, esse causās immūtābilīs, quae prohibeant secus cadere atque cāsūrum sit#, _Fat._ 28, _and even if every declaration is either true or false, it does not follow without any further ado that there are unchangeable causes to prevent a thing falling out different from the way it promises to fall out_. #nōn continuō, sī mē in gregem sīcāriōrum contulī, sum sīcārius#, _RA._ 94, _it does not forthwith follow that if I have joined a band of bravoes, I am a bravo_.

[Erratum: 2065a ... _DN._ 3, 32, 3, 32.]

#mīror#, #mīrum sī#.

2068. #mīror# or #mīrum est# (#mīra sunt#) may introduce a conditional protasis, instead of a clause with #quod# (1851) or the accusative with the infinitive (2188).

Generally the main clause is actually or virtually negatived: as, #minus mīrandumst, illaec aetās sī quid illōrum facit#, Pl. _B._ 409, _’tis not to be wondered at, if youth does things like that_. #idne tū mīrāre, sī patrissat fīlius?# Pl. _Ps._ 442, _can you, sir, wonder at it if the son plays the father?_ #nec mīrum sī ūtēbātur cōnsiliō#, _Quinct._ 18, _and it is no wonder if he followed the advice_. #mīrer, sī vāna vestra auctōritās est?# L. 3, 21, 4, _can I think it strange if your influence is of no account_ (1565)_?_ Rarely the main clause is positive: as, #mīrābar hoc sī sīc abīret#, T. _Andr._ 175, _I wondered if it was going to end so_ (1773). #mīror sī quemquam amīcum habēre potuit#, _L._ 54, _I wonder if he could have had a friend in the world_. In old colloquial style #mīrum nī# is found: as, #mīrum nī hīc me exossāre cōgitat#, Pl. _Am._ 319, _strange that he doesn’t think of boning me_. #ubi nunc ipsus? :: mīrum nī domīst#, T. _Andr._ 598, _where is he now? :: at home of course_. So once in Livy: #mīrum esse nī castra hostium oppugnentur#, L. 3, 28, 5,_ that he shouldn’t be surprised if the enemy’s camp were being stormed_ (1724). #gaudeō sī# is found once in Cicero, and #terreō, metus est sī#, or the like occurs a few times in Tacitus. For #sī# in expressions of trial, hope, expectation, &c., see 1777.

THE SUBJUNCTIVE FOR THE INDICATIVE.

2069. The indicative in the protasis is occasionally replaced by the subjunctive, as follows:

2070. (1.) The present or perfect subjunctive is sometimes used in general present suppositions, regularly in the indefinite second person singular, rarely with other persons (1730): as,